Over 1,000 convicted in burglary blitz

CRIME

A DUBLIN-WIDE garda operation aimed at burglars has brought more than 5,000 arrests but just a fifth of these resulted in convictions.

Operation Acer was launched in March 2012 to specifically target criminals involved in burglary and theft in the capital.

Figures published by the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald show that the operation has led to 5,389 arrests and 2,746 charges for burglary were brought.

However the clampdown has led to just 1,087 convictions for burglary in the Dublin area as of February this year.

According to the Minister, Operation Acer is complimented by Operation Creeper which sees burglary suspects placed under surveillance. Both are linked to Operation Fiacla, the national campaign to stamp out burglaries.

The Department of Justice is currently carrying out "a broader and urgent review of the criminal justice system's response to the problem of burglaries" according to the Minister.

Funding is also being made available for "specialised vehicles" to support gardai responding to crimes being committed by highly mobile gangs.

According to gardai, operations such as Acer "use advanced analytical and intelligence methods to disrupt criminals and dismantle their networks", are part of a new type of operation being rolled out in recent years.

SPIKED

The information about the garda operation was provided in response to a parliamentary question concerning the shorter opening hours in Terenure Garda station.

In the vicinity of the south Dublin station burglaries had spiked by 24pc compared to last year.

There are 90 gardai attached to the station which is open to the public between 7am and 9pm. Out of hours calls are directed to the nearby Rathmines station.